[Rockport24]

Hey guys, I just started using eels, used them for the second time on Sat night. Couple of issues: 1) casting off- I am hooking them through the mouth and out the throat - the first time I used them I did this and they stayed on the hook just fine, then Sat night I did the same thing and casted off two eels!!! What did I do wrong? Did I not hook them deep enough down the throat or what?
2) I use spinning - and I missed a couple of hookups. I was holding the rod at about 11 and when I felt the take, I lowered the rod down the water and then set the hook. Should I have opened the bail and let them run a little more? I didn't feel too bad about missing the hook up because the ones I did land were just under keeper-sized, so I kind of figured they were dinks not getting the whole eel in their mouth - but ya never know they could have been cows!